Voters in the upcoming May local and national elections must reject candidates who are supporters of armed struggle against the government.

Major General Adonis Ariel Orio, commander of the 8th Infantry Division, urged voters to cast their votes wisely and choose candidates who can genuinely serve the people and the community.

“Be cautious of candidates who support those advocating for armed struggle against the government,” Orio told the members of the 8th ID press corps during its general assembly on Saturday.

Orio said the Philippine Army will be closely monitoring the electoral process in Eastern Visayas to ensure the conduct of honest, orderly, and peaceful elections (HOPE).

The 8ID led the formation of Task Force HOPE Eastern Visayas (EV), together with the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Philippine Coast Guard.

TF Hope EV will deploy 10,000 personnel across the region to ensure a secure and peaceful election.

The PNP regional office in Eastern Visayas has identified 26 municipalities as election areas of concern based on historical experience of violence in the previous elections.

Waning vs commie influence

Orio said that election-related violence caused by insurgency is already waning in the region due to the continued defeat of the New People’s Army in far-flung communities that were previously under communist control.

Orio said that since his assumption as the commander of the 8ID on November 7, 2024, a total of 13 NPA members have been neutralized — 12 killed and one captured — in the 89 combat engagements the government troops had with communist insurgents.

He added that in these 89 combat operations, the government troops were able to seize 48 firearms, destroy 23 hideouts and seize 30 anti-personnel mines.

Orio said that since his assumption as 8ID head, 166 former communist rebels have surrendered and recovered 26 firearms from these surrenderers.